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2006-09-25 (Vol 3, No 9)

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[Workshop 1] Develop Tools for Sciecnec Education for Visually Impaired Students-Collaboration with Teachers in School

-collaboration with Teachers in School-

Voice Tester

I am a researcher in particle physics and education is not my field.

In 2001, at a party with graduates of my lab ¡¦
Maeda-san, who is now a teacher in Okazaki school for visually impaired, asked if we can make a volt and current meter with voice output ( i.e. voice tester ).

I accepted since it seems to be a good theme for graduate thesis for my students.
I could use my knowledge which I had for my research work.

Maeda-san¡¯s problem
A voice tester in Okazaki was old ( produced in 1981 ) and disappeared in the market already.
Repair was not possible.

It was actually NOT VOICE but with Morse like code.
Students had to learn the code.
It is not very user friendly and takes some time.
How to realize voice output

Convert voltage to number using A/D converter.
Pre-recorded voices of numbers are played for each digit of the converted number.
10.5 is played like ¡®one¡¯ ¡®zero¡¯ ¡®point¡¯ ¡®five¡¯
No voice synthesizer.
Computer Connected Type
Standalone Type
Activities after development

I went JASEB regular meeting for demonstration.
This was my first time in joining JASEB ( 2004 July 30,31 ).
Standalone Type was much more favored there because ...
It can be used outside.
PC is not very stable ( sometimes freezes ).

Maeda-san and I organized a small seminar.
9 teachers in school for visually impaired students attended.
Science Partnership Program @ Aichi University of Education on 2004 August 24,25

Merits ¡¦
I can provide longer term availability and more frequent improvements compared to company.
Something like a free software !?

Low cost light probe
Light probe is a powerful tool for science education, but is expensive (10,000¢¦30,000 yen) for developing countries.
Prof. Toriyama asked if a low cost light probe is possible.

JASEB meeting on 2005 July.
Technically it seems not be difficult.
Collaboration with teachers at Tsukuba and Okazaki was really essential to know if it has ENOUGH performance.

Cost for parts is about 500yen.
Low cost light probe
Presentation @ ICEVI
I presented low cost light probe in a poster session.

Prof. Toriyama had a workshop using 10 of them.
Hamada-san from Tsukuba, Prof. Toriyama¡¯s students and I also participated.
I feel it was welcomed and actually meaningful.
Kuala Lumpur on 2006 July

Now I should like to find a way to provide it with minimum cost.

What¡¯s next ¡¦
Can visually impaired students have a profession in developing embedded small PC inside home electronics ?
Use a standalone type voice tester to teach hardware and software.

Low cost light prove could be a kit, which visually impaired students can make with themselves.
I am trying because I met a blind teacher who make electronic circuit using soldering iron !

Summary
I could have a good collaboration with teachers in school for visually impaired.
Maeda-san in Okazaki
Prof. Toriyama
Hamada-san, Yamada-san, Ishizaki-san and other teachers in Tsukuba

I am using only a small fraction of my time now and should like to continue.

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kodama.ppt

Koichi Kodama, Aichi Universithy of Education

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